The Holmesburg Civic Association recently listened to a presentation by Matt Wysong, of the city Office of Transportation and Infrastructure Systems.
Wysong, the Roosevelt Boulevard Program Coordinator, outlined the Roosevelt Boulevard Route for Change.
Wysong distributed literature to the crowd that showed the SEPTA Direct Bus, which has fewer stops than local bus service, saves riders 13 minutes when traveling from the Frankford Transportation Center to Neshaminy Mall.
There is an ongoing project at the Boulevard intersection of Summerdale and Adams avenues that will bring new signals, road striping and traffic patterns, along with shorter pedestrian crossing distances.
Crossover lanes will be extended to make them safer and less congested.
Among improvements planned over the next five years is additional time for left turns onto the Boulevard.
A study will look at two possible roadway designs by 2040: a partially capped expressway with four sunken expressway inner lanes (50 mph) and four outer lanes (25 mph); or a Neighborhood Boulevard, with six inner lanes and four local outer lanes, all at 25 mph.
There are three possible transit modes in long-term plans: a bus rapid transit, light rail transit or subway.
Wysong also touched on Vision Zero, the city’s strategy to eliminate all traffic-related deaths and serious injuries.
Mayor Cherelle Parker’s budget slashed funding for Vision Zero from $2.5 million to $1 million, and City Council did not restore the cuts.
In other news from the June 11 meeting:
• The civic association voted, 10-2, to not oppose a proposal by the owner of 4444 Oakmont St. to offer short-term rentals, with a two-day minimum. Owner Robert Klein’s property has two units.
• There will be a July 4 celebration at Pleasant Hill Park, Delaware River and Linden Avenue, from 5 to 9:30 p.m. Food trucks and vendors will be on site, and the night will end with fireworks.
• State Rep. Joe Hohenstein, City Councilman Mike Driscoll and state Sen. Tina Tartaglione will hold a paper shredding and e-recycling event on Saturday, June 22, from 9 a.m. to noon, at Ellis Coffee Co., 2835 Bridge St. Recycling buckets will be available. Call Hohenstein’s office at 215-744-2600.
• The Bridge Clinic, 2275 Bridge St., Building 209, first floor, in the Frankford Arsenal, will be giving away free dog food on Saturday, June 22, from 9 a.m. to noon.
• Among those in the crowd was Joe Picozzi, Republican candidate in the 5th Senatorial District.
• Holmesburg Civic Association will meet on Tuesday, Sept. 10, at 7:15 p.m. at Holmesburg Recreation Center, at Rhawn and Ditman streets. ••
